What is the purpose of the reading comprehension section?

The purpose of the reading comprehension section is to evaluate students' ability to understand and analyze texts. This section specifically focuses on how well students can read a passage and interpret its meaning, identify themes, summarize information, and draw inferences based on the written material. Comprehension skills are critical for academic success across various subjects, as they enable students to process and understand information presented in written form.

Effective reading comprehension requires not just basic understanding of the words, but also the ability to think critically about the information being conveyed, which is essential for deeper learning. This skill is foundational in education and serves as a building block for further academic and real-world applications.

The other choices pertain to different skill sets that are not the main focus of the reading comprehension section. For instance, assessing math skills, testing writing skills, and checking spelling proficiency all involve distinct capabilities that do not relate directly to understanding written texts.